Hyderabad: Relocation of villagers from the Kawal tiger reserve has hit the compensation hurdle. Forest officials have decided to relocate residents of two villages in the first phase and nine in the second. A total of 23 villages have been identified for relocation.
Villagers are strongly opposing the Rs10 lakh compensation being offered to each household, calling it very meagre. They want a house and a job apart from the monetary compensation.
The reserve is spread over 350 sq km covering the districts of Adil-abad, Asifabad, Manch-erial and Nirmal. It is one of the two tiger reserves in Telangana state.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has proposed to shift villages from the core area in a bid to reduce human interface, hoping that the measure would lead to an incr-ease in tiger population. The state has stepped up efforts to relocate villages in a phased manner following sighting of two tigers in Nirmal district last month.
Villagers expressed anger over the state government fixing a uniform compensation to affected families without taking into consideration the value of their houses, extent of land they own and their livelihood.
